Stair railing



United States Patent O STAIR RAILING Elmer S. Newman, Cincinnati, Ohio, assignor to Newman Brothers, Inc., a corporation of (Ehio Filed June 3, 1959, Ser. No. 817,821

'3 Claims. (Cl. 256-21) The present invention generally relates to a retaining railing and more particularly to such a railing for use as a porch railing or stair railing having adjustable structural features which enables the railing to be effectively employed on a horizontal surface or on an inclined stepped surface such as along the side edges of steps.

'Ihe primary object of the present invention is to provide a railing which is adjustable in order to enable the same railing to be used on a flat horizontal surface or to be used on a group of steps by merely making certain adjustments which are readily made.

Another object o-f the present invention is to provide a railing of an adjustable nature and which is constructed of ribbon-like structural components preferably anodized for an attractive appearance with the assembly being ex tremely simple in construction, easy to install, easy to adjust, long lasting, weather-resistant, rugged and dependable and relatively inexpensive to manufacture.

These together with other objects and advantages which will become subsequently apparent reside in the details of construction and operation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part hereof, wherein like numerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which:

Figure l is a perspective view of the railing of the present invention in use;

and include an inverted U-shaped element having a top bight portion 18 and depending diverging legs 20. The bight portion 18 is provided with the U-shaped mounting lug 22 secured thereto in any suitable manner such as by fastening means or bonding with the lugs of the U- shaped bracket 22 receiving the pivot lug 14 therebetween with a riveted type of fastener 24 extending through aligned apertures in the bracket 22 and lug 14 thereby pivotally securing the post assembly 16 to the top rail I12.

Each of the legs 2t)` may be considered of H-shaped configuration in that they are relatively thin but have substantial thickness with the narrower edges thereof being provided with a longitudinal recess 26.

Mounted on each of the depending legs 20 is an elongated sleeve 28 telescopically receiving the lower ends of the legs 20 and secured thereto in adjusted position by a setscrew 30 which extends inwardly and secures the sleeves 28 to the leg 20. The sleeve 28 closely receives the leg 29 and is provided with a longitudinal projection 32 along the side edges thereof for sliding engagement with the recess 26 in the leg member 20.

The configuration of the interior of the sleeve 28 is such that the rib 32 riding in the groove 26 will stabilize the entire assembly. Extending downwardly from each sleeve 28 are leg members 34 forming a U-shaped member v which includes a transverse horizontally disposed bight Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 2 2 of Figure l, on an enlarged scale, illustrating the details of the interconnecting sleeve and the manner in which the sleeve is attached to the end elements;

Figure 3 is a detailed sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 3-3 of Figure 1 illustrating the details of the connection between the horizontal top rail and the supporting posts therefor;

Figure 4 is a transverse, plan sectional View, on an enlarged scale, taken substantially upon a plane passing along section line 4 4 of Figure l illustrating further structural details of the sleeve and its association with the end elements showing the relationship of components; and

Figure 5 is a schematic view of the railing, on a reduced scale, showing the manner in which the railing is adjusted to conform to a stairway.

Referring now specifically to the drawings, the numeral i 10 generally designates the railing o-f the present invention which includes a top rail 12 having a plurality of depending pivot lugs 14 mounted thereon and which may be attached thereto by any suitable fastening means or formed unitarily therewith. The lug 14 may be secured by detachable fasteners or may be bonded to the top rail 12 in any suitable manner desired. The lugs 14 are disposed at equally spaced points centrally along the undersurface of the top rail 12 as illustrated in Fig. 3.

Connected to the top rail 12 is a series of post assemblies each of which is generally designated by the numeral 16. The post assemblies 16 are interconnected portion 36' which will engage and rest upon a supporting surface.

When it is desired to use the device on a stair step assembly, it is necessary to lengthen and shorten alternate legs by adjustment of the sleeves 28 in relation thereto as illustrated in Figure 1 thereby enabling the top rail 12 to be used either horizontally or in an inclined manner.

For purposes of rendering the device highly attractive and ornamental, the top rail 12, lug 14, bracket 22 and the inverted U-shaped member is constituted by elements 18 and 20 and the U-shaped elements constituted by elements 36 and 34 are preferably satin anodized While the sleeve 28 is black anodized. Also, end posts may be used wherever required and the endmost post may be provided with a continuous one-piece outer leg which would engage the surface of a building wall or alongside of a vertical post.

The foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

l. A railing comprising an elongated top rail, a plurality of interconnected post assemblies, and means pivotally connecting the upper end of each post assembly to the rail whereby the angular relationship between the post assemblies and the rail may be altered for enabling the rail to be disposed in horizontal or inclined position, each of said post assemblies including a horizontally disposed bottom element for engagement with a horizontal supporting surface, each of said post assemblies including an inverted U-shaped member having a bight portion pivotally attached to the top rail, said inverted U-shaped member having downwardly diverging legs, a U-shaped member having upwardly diverging legs with one leg of the U-shaped member being in alignment with a leg of the inverted U-shaped member, and an elongated rigid sleeve telescopingly receiving the adjacent end portions of the aligned legs for slidably receiving the aligned legs, setscrew means for locking the locking sleeve to the legs in adjusted position for permitting adjustment of the top rail and the effective length ofthe side portions of the post assemblies.

2. The combination of claim 1 wherein said means connecting the top rail to the post assembly includes a depending lug on the top rail and an upwardly opening U-shaped bracket carried by the post assembly with a transverse pin interconnecting the lug and bracket for pivotal movement of the post assembly.

3. A post assembly for use in combination with a plurality of like post assemblies for supporting a railing, said post assembly comprising a U-shaped member having the substantially horizontal bottom and upwardly diverging legs, an inverted U-shaped member having a generally iorizontal bight portion and downwardly diverging legs, one leg of the inverted U-shaped member being in alignment with one leg of the U-shaped member, the bght portion of the inverted U-shaped member adapted to be pivotally connected to a railing, and means rigidly and longitudinally adjustably interconnecting the adjacent end portions of the aligned legs of the U-shaped member and inverted U-shaped member for retaining the legs in longitudinally adjusted position thereby adjusting the elective length of the post assembly or enabling variation in the height of the railing and for enabling the railing to be orientated in angular relation to the bight portion of the inverted U-shaped member.

References Cited in the rile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,820,613 Schilling Ian. 2l, 1958 

